Archive: May 2017

How to Decide if You Should Outsource Your TMS

How to Decide if You Should Outsource Your TMS

The days of the in-house transportation management system (TMS) are fading. Sure, there are a few benefits to building a custom system. It’s designed for a shipper’s specific needs, and all the data gathered stays in the family, so to speak. Yet, there are problems. Many shippers find their custom systems don’t communicate properly with […]

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5 Steps to Protect Your Supply Chain From Cyber Threats

With cyber threats affecting organizations worldwide, warding off cyber attacks and protecting against cyber espionage is becoming a top priority across industries. Manufacturers, distributors, and organizations, however, are not doing enough to make supply chains more resilient and prepared. Whether your business is large or small, a startup or 40-year veteran, major security issues stem […]

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Finding Untapped Value in Product Returns

The little-known, but dark secret of e-commerce is this: On average, for every three packages a retailer ships, one will be an eventual return. Retailers must shift their focus to processing the continuously increasing number of returns. As retail grows more reliant on analytics, retailers are seeing previously untapped value in data about who is […]

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Matthew Vogt

Blended Synergy: The Balance of Automation & Expertise – Unyson

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is becoming an important innovation across many industries and is beginning to catch the attention of many supply chain professionals. The idea of robots in the workplace might conjure up likeable characters such as Rosie from the Jetsons, Vicky from Small Wonder, or Bender from Futurama. Or maybe you went directly […]

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Working Alongside Robots: No Longer Science Fiction

Working alongside robots in warehouses is the way of the present, rather than the way of the future. The recent ProMat and Automate conferences, in Chicago, featured robotics and automated materials handling equipment. “Solve for X,” the theme of the conference, emphasized the need for manufacturers, warehousing and third-party logistics companies to embrace change to […]

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Planning for the IoT and the Future of Your Supply Chain

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been noticeable across every aspect of everyday life, from controlling the lights in our homes to tracking the way we shop. It’s no surprise that it’s also having a huge influence behind the scenes of the supply chain, altering and improving processes from end-to-end to enable […]

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TMS Solutions: The Big Picture

TMS Solutions: The Big Picture

Transportation management systems streamline the information exchange between shippers and carriers, so freight moves reliably, efficiently, and at the best possible cost.

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What You Need to Know About Selecting a Dock Appointment Scheduling System

Q: What is dock appointment scheduling? A: Dock scheduling is a means for managing the timeliness of inbound and outbound transportation (truck traffic) at your loading docks in order to maximize the efficient operation of those docks. Q: What is the difference between Appointment Management and a Dock Scheduling System? A: Appointment management usually takes […]

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What to Expect From Your 3PL

Q: As supply chain operations continue the migration from an afterthought in the warehouse to a priority in the boardroom, what are some questions a shipper should ask before adding a 3PL to their supplier base? A: It largely depends upon what level of partnership a carrier is seeking. Managing spot capacity is very different […]

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How Small Retailers Can Compete with Retail Giants

Q: What is the biggest thing for shippers to consider in their supply chain? A: The one constant trend is the growth in the way we reach consumers. E-commerce sales increased 15.6 percent in 2016, and there are no signs that this trend will slow in the future. Direct to consumer is here for the […]

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Does Your TMS Provide you a ClearView?

Q: What are you seeing as the biggest opportunity for TMS functionality? A: Transportation management software (TMS) was developed for the simple task of enforcing carrier routing and producing a shipping label. Web rating, or rate shopping, was a major advancement to the TMS technology industry 10 years ago. Today, very few TMS companies offer […]

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Advice for Transportation Departments on Gaining Corporate IT Buy-in for TMS Solutions

Q: What pushback should transportation leaders anticipate from IT when proposing a TMS implementation? A: Corporate IT departments are frequently ambivalent about cooperating; sometimes even actively working to undercut the proposed initiative because there’s a perception that any new enterprise software deployment adds significantly to IT’s workload during implementation, integration, and thereafter with respect to […]

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Is a 3PL Not the Best Fit for You?

Q: While some companies have chosen to rely on 3PLs to manage their logistics, Progressive Converting made the choice to keep its logistics in house. Why? MR: Progressive Converting (Pro-Con) is a service provider to the major paper companies. As such, controlling all aspects of the supply chain is critical in delivering value to our […]

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